Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you need ORIGINAL copies of birth certificates and report cards?
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Certification is the process of approving the players for participation in the season. A player (football and cheer) must be certified to be on the official roster, which allows them to participate in Pop Warner. The process of certifying players is done by league officials, not Yuma volunteers; therefore, it can only be done at selected times and is taken VERY seriously. To be certified, a player will need:
· The registration forms filled out completely with the appropriate signatures.
· A physical indicating fitness to participate (Must Be On LEAGUE FORM)
· If an inhaler is needed, an extra one must be provided to be kept with the team
· An end of school year (4 qtr) report card with at least a ‘C’ average in core subjects or a Scholastic Waiver.
· The child’s original official county (not hospital) birth certificate
· A photo of the child (Yuma Pop Warner can take this photo for you)
· For tackle football players, the player must be within the correct weight range
Why can't parents be on the field during practice?
Parents are encouraged to stay and watch practice and organize as a support group for their team to help the coaches with off-field activities and responsibilities for the team. However, we must insist that you stay off the actual practice fields as our insurance only covers those volunteers who have been formally approved by us.
My Child has a birthday during the season. How does that affect age placement?
With Pop Warner games being played in the fall, the organization has set up a specific guideline: A child's age on July 31st is his/her age for the entire season. So if your son turns 10 on August 1st, he will still be considered a 9-year old for registration purposes.
Does my child's weight matter?
Yes it does. Pop Warner combines age restrictions with weight restrictions to make an age/weight scale. It is as follows:
Cubbies: Ages 5-7. Flag
Mitey Mite: Ages 7-9. Must be between 50-100 pounds. NO OLDER LIGHTER
Junior Pee Wee: Ages 8-11 must be between 65-115 pounds. 11 year olds are assigned if they weigh between 65-95 pounds.
Pee Wee: Ages 9-12 must be between 80-130 pounds. 12 year olds are assigned if they weigh between 80-110 pounds.
Junior Midget: Ages 10-13 must be between 95-155 pounds. 13 year olds are assigned if they weigh between 95-135 pounds.
Midget: Ages 12-15 must be between 110-180 pounds. 15 year olds are assigned if they weigh between 110-160 pounds.
For more information, check out Pop Warner's Age/Weight structure chart.
Are there any other requirements?
Pop Warner demands academic excellence among its participants. Players must receive a 2.0 grade-point average (or 70 percent average) in school to participate. Exceptions are mage through Scholastic Eligibility Forms, which are filled out by that child's school to determine whether Pop Warner football would be beneficial to that child.
Are there tryouts?
No. Everyone is allowed to participate and play. However, remember that attending practice is mandatory and absences may affect the amount of time a player plays.
If my child isn't the best player on the team, will he/she just sit the bench all season?
Not at all. Pop Warner has mandatory rules of play that requires everyone be able to participate. That means that every player will get in for several plays every game.
How many games will my child play?
The regular season schedule is usually between seven and nine games, usually on Saturdays from late August to early November. At some levels (Jr. Pee Wee and above), teams will have the opportunity to play in playoff games with the best teams playing in the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Florida in early December.
Is my child safe playing organized football?
Though injury is always possible in any sport, Pop Warner is quick to point out that injury rates are significantly lower in youth football than in high school or college football. That's partly because of Pop Warner's strict age/weight scale that makes sure all the children are playing against players their own size.
Studies have shown that organized football among children produces fewer injuries than soccer.
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